Dog owners:what kind of food do you buy?

Iams is what we use.

My vet recommended the Science Diet brand for allergies that you can only buy at the vet. It is pretty expensive but I think it works really well.

This is correct. The "limited ingredients diets" found at petstores are a good idea but may contain some of the things not listed on the label. One study we learned about in class showed that 3/4 foods that did not have soy on the label had soy traces in them and 1/2 without beef on the label had beef traces in them. It wouldn't be enough to hurt a normal dog, but one with allergies it could. It seems trace amounts of other proteins and carb sources don't need to go on the label because they're not that high. However, they're plenty high to ruin a food trial.

The veterinary prescribed diets are much more expensive because the food company makes those batches and guarantees no contamination with other ingredients in them. They are VERY stringent about this because there are dogs with very severe allergies. If they were found to have traces of another ingredient they would have RAGING veterinarian dermatologists on the phone DEMANDING that they recall the food and provide replacement. I'm not joking when I say that would make my vet very angry.

I know many of the purists will say that the ingredients are not good, but I'd rather have my dog eat corn than scratch himself to death. In the mean time, I continue to ask company reps why they don't change the ingredients.

That's the difference. Limited ingredient pet store diets do work for some dogs, but not for ones with very severe problems.

I will add that one veterinarian I talked too didn't know this. I told her what my dermatology professor said and she changed her mind about recommending them until AFTER a food trial as opposed to FOR a food trial.

our dog doesn't have skin issues, but she has had liver issues and has to eat a food that is higher in fiber and on the lower side in protein, we give her WELLNESS Healthy weight.... it's a purple bag.... usually $65 for the larger bag at petco. lasts a few months, and we give her 1/2 cup am & pm plus half a can of green beans for dinner!

Your dog may have an allergy to ragweed or something else in the air. One of my corgis has itching fits every year at this time, and has to go on Benadryl for about six weeks to clear it up.

In answer to your food question, i feed my dogs as nature intended. They eat raw meat and bones, just like their wild relatives. I've been feeding this way for 13 years, and just lost my oldest sheltie at age 17. Two of my dogs come from raw feeding breeders, and have never eaten any other way, and the rest were converted when they came here, ranging in age from 10 weeks to 7 months.

They are all very healthy, active, at a good weight, and only one has ever needed a dental cleaning.

I have been feeding a raw diet to my dogs and cats for about 15 years now. I will never go back to dog food. I have super healthy animals with shiny coats and great skin! Just google Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF).

Feeding raw cleared up allergies in a cat I had. He was very allergic to poultry and it's darned near impossible to find a cat food without poultry or poultry by-products. I switched him to raw lamb and within about 3 months it was like I had a different cat!

JMHO

I buy Earthborn any variety and it has made a big difference in my dogs coat and their digestive system! They eat less and have less gas and they love it! Its a grain free, all natural dog food, look for it you wont be sorry!

I can tell you why not to buy, Soft food of any kind, its terrible for the development of teeth and gums, if you can squish it with your fingers its to soft. Don't even use it for a treat because they will want it all the time.

I feed mine Purina Beneful Healthy Weight. They are always licking and chewing. Maybe I need to switch it up for the boys. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

My dog has terrible allergies, and ended up on prescription Hill's Z/D. Very pricey, and he STILL has problems. Argh.

My dogs get a mix of Blue Buffalo Wilderness dry and raw. For the raw mix I take two 2 lb chubs of Blue Ridge Beef (this batch has Natural Mix and Puppy Mix), about a pound of kale or collards (pulverized in the food processor and then lightly cooked), a handful of blueberries, CoQ10, Vitamin A, extra fat (coconut or bacon, keeps Fade's seizures away), a shot of a skin supplement and a tablespoon of Missing Link. Then I put it in the mixer until it's combined and portion into ice cube trays. Each dog gets one cube and a handful of dry every meal. Breakfast also includes half of a Cosequin for each.
I know is sounds like a lot of work and I do spend about an hour making their food every other week. It's worth it. I had them on a mix of Blue Buffalo Wilderness canned and dry over last fall and winter and into the spring. Fade started going off her food. She'd eat a bit and lose interest. Zen stopped jumping on and off the bed. Then he wouldn't go up or down stairs. And he would occasionally cry when he got up from bed or if I picked him up. We took him to the vet and she said his hips were getting arthritic. I put him on Cosequin and he stopped crying but he still wouldn't jump on or off the bed and he was still reluctant to use the stairs. I gave in and put them back on raw. A week later he was flying on and off the bed and racing down the stairs. He had also developed crusty spots on the ends of his ears that are going away. Both dogs are very excited about eating again. Their coats are shinier and they just generally seem healthier.
I know not everyone is going to feed raw and that's fine. But consider it. If you don't, look for grain-free foods. Dogs are not meant to eat grain. High carb diets make them fat. High fat and moderate protein. Blue Buffalo Wilderness and Inova are both good. Grain-free isn't as expensive as it seems. They can digest more of it so they can eat less. Check serving size before you say it costs too much. At the very least, choose a food without corn, wheat, soy or byproducts. It's all junk.

I lost my best buddy a month ago...Petie...he was a rat terrier and he was 12 years old. The vet told me his kidneys completely shut down... she asked what I was feeding him and I told her Kibbles and Bits...she had a fit..... that is probably what made his kidneys shut down...it is grain filled and high carb.....lots of grains......

I miss him so bad, please do some research and stop feeding your dog crap filled with grains.....

you will have to spend a little more money on their food but let me ask you, is the dog worth it...if i could have my Petie back I would feed him filet mignon everyday.....

dont feed your dog grain based food.....

I just have to say, this makes me really sad
I dont always research the type of food I'm giving my dog (though I should since she has a beef allergy)
I think researching the brand of food you buy first is the best method and I will try that from now on

I buy Solid Gold dog food:

Hund n Flocken (adult) for my Jack Russell and other dog (approx. 30 lbs) 28 pounds of dry food for $44.00
Just a wee bit (adult) for my little one (10 lbs) 33 pounds of dry food for $57.00

I mix it with soft food both by Solid Gold and Blue ($1.99 - $2.69 per can)

Solid Gold sells grain free food and other varieties.

Hope you get your doggie on a food he/she likes. Good luck!

Blue Buffalo, I use the one for older dogs.